Deadly E. Coli Outbreak Prompts Recall of Cargill Ground Beef

Remember the recall for Cargill ground beef last month? Well, earlier this week, Cargill Meat Solutions announced a new recall of 132,606 pounds of ground meat as a result of a deadly e.coli outbreak. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), an estimated 18 people have fallen ill as a result of the E. coli contamination. Tragically, one of the people infected has passed away.

According to the recall notice, the potentially contaminated meat is “from the chuck portion of the carcass and was produced June 21.” Consumers can identify if they have one of the recalled products by checking the USDA inspection mark on the outside of the package. The USDA inspection mark on the recalled products is ‘EST. 86R.’

Unfortunately, the products were distributed nationwide. If you think you may have consumed one of the contaminated products, keep a look out for symptoms of the illness. Typically, symptoms of E.coli begin appearing between “one and 10 days after consuming contaminated food or drink,” though it’s not uncommon for people to become ill “three to four days after exposure” to the bacteria. Symptoms may include everything from fever and vomiting to fatigue and diarrhea. According to the CDC, most people recover between five to seven days. However, some may experience more severe symptoms and develop kidney failure.

Because the products were distributed nationwide, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is concerned that some of the recalled products “may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers.” Because of that, the agency is urging consumers who purchased the products to either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

About Brianna Smith

Brianna Smith is a freelance writer and editor in Southwest Michigan. A graduate of Grand Valley State University, Brianna has a passion for politics, social issues, education, science, and more. When she’s not writing, she enjoys the simple life with her husband, daughter, and son.

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